On June 15, 2026, the UK government announced plans to introduce a social media ban for users under 16 (under-16s), alongside restrictions on features deemed harmful to minors, such as livestreaming and messaging functions, for a wider range of online services, including those in the gaming sector. These measures, which may require platforms active in the UK market to significantly alter their operations, are expected to come into force in Spring 2027.

Background

Discussions about a potential social media ban for under-16s have moved rapidly in the UK in 2026. The announcement follows a public consultation which ran from March to May, and which solicited views from the public on a range of potential measures to protect minors online, including a minimum age requirement for access to social media, and restrictions on harmful or addictive features. For AI chatbots specifically, the consultation invited views on risk mitigation measures, such as minimum ages, restricting features and functionalities, or time limits.

The UK’s approach has been influenced by Australia, which in December 2025 became the first country to implement a social media ban for under-16s. Notably, the announcement indicates that the UK will go further, by extending age-based restrictions beyond social media to a wider range of online services, and by limiting the specific features those services can offer to younger users.

Key Proposals

The proposals will be brought into force via powers that allow government ministers to extend the scope of the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA) through secondary legislation. While the text of this legislation is not yet available, the key measures announced are:

• Social media ban for under-16s. Social media platforms will be prohibited from offering their services to minors under the age of 16. While it is not yet clear how the term “social media platform” will be defined, the UK government has stated that it will include user-to-user platforms designed for social interaction. Messaging services will not be within scope of the ban.
• Broader restrictions on harmful features. Certain online services, including gaming platforms, will be required to make features such as livestreaming and messaging services that allow communication with strangers unavailable for under-16s, and off by default for 16- and 17-year-olds. The government is also considering implementing overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for minors under 18, with more detail on these measures expected in July.
• Restrictions on certain AI companion features. AI chatbots designed to simulate romantic or sexual relationships will be required to enforce a minimum age of 18. More broadly, similar intimate functionalities on AI chatbots will be restricted for users under 18, regardless of the platform's primary purpose.
• Highly effective age assurance. Age assurance will be central to the social media ban, and the Office of Communications (Ofcom) is tasked with carrying out a study on measures that can be considered “highly effective” in determining whether someone is over 16. Ofcom is expected to publish its findings by October 2026.

Implications and Next Steps

These announcements come at a time of significant regulatory activity for online services in the UK. Services affected by the social media ban are already subject to obligations under the OSA and some are likely to face additional requirements such as categorized services (i.e., services that exceed prescribed active UK user thresholds and/or have certain functionalities, such as user-to-user content sharing). Categorization would bring further obligations, including enhanced risk assessment and record-keeping duties, transparency reporting, user empowerment tools, and fraudulent advertising controls.

The UK announcements reflect a broader European trend to restrict harmful online activity for minors under 16 years old. For example, France, Spain, Norway, and Austria are advancing their own social media bans, and the European Parliament has called for a harmonized EU-wide minimum age of 16 to access social media and other online services, and a ban on addictive practices for minors such as infinite scrolling.

With the new regulations expected to come into force in spring 2027, companies offering online services to minors should begin assessing how the change in law might affect their operations.

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati routinely helps companies navigate complex digital regulation and privacy compliance in the UK and EU. For more information, please contact Cédric Burton, Nikolaos Theodorakis, Tom Evans, or another member of the firm’s Data, Privacy, and Cybersecurity practice.

Claudia Chan and Michaela Novakova contributed to the preparation of this alert.